James 5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 5

In this chapter the apostle denounces the judgments of God upon those rich men who oppress the poor, showing them how great their sin and folly are in the sight of God, and how grievous the punishments would be which should fall upon themselves, Jas. 5:1-6. Hereupon, all the faithful are exhorted to patience under their trials and sufferings, Jas. 5:7-11. The sin of swearing is cautioned against, Jas. 5:12. We are directed how to act, both under affliction and in prosperity, Jas. 5:13. Prayer... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 5:1-11

The apostle is here addressing first sinners and then saints. I. Let us consider the address to sinners; and here we find James seconding what his great Master had said: Woe unto you that are rich; for you have received your consolation, Luke 6:24. The rich people to whom this word of warning was sent were not such as professed the Christian religion, but the worldly and unbelieving Jews, such as are here said to condemn and kill the just, which the Christians had no power to do; and though... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 5:12-20

This epistle now drawing to a close, the penman goes off very quickly from one thing to another: hence it is that matters so very different are insisted on in these few verses. I. The sin of swearing is cautioned against: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, etc., Jas. 5:12. Some understand this too restrictedly, as if the meaning were, ?Swear not at your persecutors, at those that reproach you and say all manner of evil of you; be not put into a passion by the injuries they do you,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:1-3

5:1-3 Come now, you rich, weep and wail at the miseries which are coming upon you. Your wealth is rotten and your garments are food for moths. Your gold and silver are corroded clean through with rust; and their rust is proof to you of how worthless they are. It is a rust which will eat into your very flesh like fire. It is a treasure indeed that you have amassed for yourselves in the last days! James 5:1-6 has two aims. First, to show the ultimate worthlessness of all earthly riches;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:1-3

Not even the most cursory reader of the Bible can fail to be impressed with the social passion which blazes through its pages. No book condemns dishonest and selfish wealth with such searing passion as it does. The book of the prophet Amos was called by J. E. McFadyen "The Cry for Social Justice." Amos condemns those who store up violence and robbery in their palaces ( Amos 3:10 ). He condemns those who tread on the poor and themselves have houses of hewn stone and pleasant vineyards--which... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:4-6

5:4-6 Look you, the pay of the reapers who reaped your estates, the pay kept back from them by you, cries against you, and the cries of those who reaped have come to the ears of the Lord of Hosts. On the earth you have lived in soft luxury and played the wanton; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You condemned, you killed the righteous man, and he does not resist you. Here is condemnation of selfish riches and warning of where they must end. (i) The selfish rich have... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:7-9

5:7-9 Brothers. have patience until the coming of the Lord. Look you, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, patiently waiting for it until it receives the early and the late rains. So do you too be patient. Make firm your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near. Brothers, do not complain against each other, that you may not be condemned. Look you, the judge stands at the door. The early church lived in expectation of the immediate Second Coming of Jesus Christ; and James... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:7-9

We may now gather up briefly the teaching of the New Testament about the Second Coming and the various uses it makes of the idea. (i) The New Testament is clear that no man knows the day or the hour when Christ comes again. So secret, in fact, is that time that Jesus himself does not know it; it is known to God alone ( Matthew 24:36 ; Mark 13:32 ). From this basic fact one thing is clear. Human speculation about the time of the Second Coming is not only useless, it is blasphemous; for... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:10-11

5:10-11 Brothers, take as an example of patience in hardship the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Look you, we count those who endure blessed. You have heard of Job's steadfast endurance and you have seen the conclusion of his troubles which the Lord gave to him, and you have proof that the Lord is very kind and merciful. It is always a comfort to feel that others have gone through what we have to go through. James reminds his readers that the prophets and the men of God could... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:12

5:12 Above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath. Let your yes be a simple yes and your no a simple no, lest you fall under judgment. James is repeating the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5:33-37 ), teaching which was very necessary in the days of the early church. James is not thinking of what we call bad language but of confirming a statement or a promise or an undertaking by an oath. In the ancient world,... read more

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